TENAGA Nasional snatched the TNB Cup from the jaws of Ernst & Young after a tensed penalty shootout at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
After regulation time ended 1-1 and the deadlock failed to be broken in the 15 minutes of extra time, even the penalty shootout had to enter go to sudden-death before Tenaga ended the tense affair 7-6.
Tenaga, who finished third in the League, surprised the crowd when they took the early lead through S. Selvaraju who scored from close range in the 28th minute.
But E & Y stepped up the tempo, applied the pressure and were finally rewarded when Zulkifli Rejab scored off a penalty corner in the 63rd minute to take the match into extra time.
Goalkeeper S. Kumar was Tenaga’s hero of the day, while E & Y relied on former national keeper Roslan Jamaluddin.
For Tenaga, S. Selvaraju, Sallehin Ghani, Tajol Rosli and Kelvinder Singh scored in the first five, while Amin Rahim missed.
And for E & Y, the first five flickers were Megat Azrafiq who missed, while Sukri Mutalib, Suffian Mohamed, Baljit Singh and Razie Rahim scored.
In sudden-death, Selvaraju was on target again, while Sukri equalised for E & Y, then Amin scored while Baljit equalsied for E & Y.
But in the third sudden-death, Tajol scored but Sufian’s flick was saved by Kumar, much to the relief of the Tenaga bench and their supporters.
LEAGUE: Champions: Ernst & Young (RM60,000); Second: Sapura (RM40,000); Third: Tenaga Nasional (RM30,000); Fourth: Maybank (RM20,000).
OVERALL: Champions: Tenaga Nasional (RM17,500); Runners-Up: Ernst & Young (RM17,500). Note: Prize money shared as match went into penalties).
ROLL-OF-HONOUR: Best Player of Tournament: Engku Malek (Maybank); Best Player of Final: S. Kumar (Tenaga); Top Scorer: Jiwa Mohan (Sapura, 23 goals); Best Goalkeeper: Khairulnizam Ibrahim (Ernst & Young); Fair Play: Bukit Jalil Sports School.
Monday, July 30, 2007
E&Y seek first double, Tenaga eye record
A battle royal is on the cards as league champions Ernst and Young (E&Y) and Tenaga Nasional clash for the overall title in the TNB-Malaysia Hockey League at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
E&Y, who have won the league title, are seeking their first overall title while Tenaga are out to add to their collection of 10 titles so far.
E&Y will feature in their fifth final for the overall title knowing that they have yet to win their last four finals.
Tenaga have won the overall title five times and the league title just as many times. They are also the only team to have clinched the double twice in 1991 and 2003. An impressive record by all accounts.
Maybank have five titles in all and are the second most successful club in the series. They have three overall title and two league crowns.
Thus the meeting today will see if Tenaga can keep up their winning tradition or if the MHL will see a new champion being crowned.
For Ernst and Young victory today would also complete a double – league and overall. Only six teams have won the double. Tenaga (1991 and 2003), Maybank (1994), Yayasan NS (1996), MPPJ (1997), Bank Simpanan Nasional (1999) and Sapura (2005).
Ernst and Young have the opportunity to join them today.
But first their star-studded aside must rise to the occasion and take the fight to Tenaga. They are not short of talented players or potential match winners but they have crumbled in the past when they were given the favourites' tag.
Players like Chua Boon Huat, Zulkifli Rejab, Megat Azrafiq, Ismail Abu, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Mohamed Shahrun Nabil, Azlan Misron, Mohamed Soffian Mohamed and Mohamed Razie Rahim will have to come up with a championship winning performance.
more
E&Y, who have won the league title, are seeking their first overall title while Tenaga are out to add to their collection of 10 titles so far.
E&Y will feature in their fifth final for the overall title knowing that they have yet to win their last four finals.
Tenaga have won the overall title five times and the league title just as many times. They are also the only team to have clinched the double twice in 1991 and 2003. An impressive record by all accounts.
Maybank have five titles in all and are the second most successful club in the series. They have three overall title and two league crowns.
Thus the meeting today will see if Tenaga can keep up their winning tradition or if the MHL will see a new champion being crowned.
For Ernst and Young victory today would also complete a double – league and overall. Only six teams have won the double. Tenaga (1991 and 2003), Maybank (1994), Yayasan NS (1996), MPPJ (1997), Bank Simpanan Nasional (1999) and Sapura (2005).
Ernst and Young have the opportunity to join them today.
But first their star-studded aside must rise to the occasion and take the fight to Tenaga. They are not short of talented players or potential match winners but they have crumbled in the past when they were given the favourites' tag.
Players like Chua Boon Huat, Zulkifli Rejab, Megat Azrafiq, Ismail Abu, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Mohamed Shahrun Nabil, Azlan Misron, Mohamed Soffian Mohamed and Mohamed Razie Rahim will have to come up with a championship winning performance.
more
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
FIXTURES
Semi-finals (return leg) 25/7/07 -
Batu Pahat Sikhs[1] v Ernst & Young[4] (6pm);
Tenaga Nasional[3] v Sapura[1] (8pm).
(Both matches at the National Hockey Stadium - Pitch One in Bukit Jalil).
Batu Pahat Sikhs[1] v Ernst & Young[4] (6pm);
Tenaga Nasional[3] v Sapura[1] (8pm).
(Both matches at the National Hockey Stadium - Pitch One in Bukit Jalil).
I’m still alive and kicking, Kaliswaran tells critics
Former international forward M. Kaliswaran failed to make an impact for Tenaga Nasional in the TNB-Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) preliminary round matches.
But the 31-year-old, who only scored one goal in the 16 preliminary round league matches, finally came alive in the first-leg semi-finals against defending overall champions Sapura at the KL Hockey Stadium on Sunday. He scored a brilliant reverse stick goal to steer Tenaga to an emphatic 3-1 win over the league runners-up.
Kaliswaran, who last donned national colours in the Olympic qualifier in Osaka in 2000, was glad that he proved his critics wrong with his impressive showing.
“Many people think that my days are numbered. But I believe I can still contribute to any team,” said Kaliswaran yesterday.
Mohd Amin Rahim gave Tenaga the lead in the 12th minute only for Sapura to draw level through Jivan Mohan in the 42nd minute. Kaliswaran then beat Sapura goalkeeper Mohd Nasihin Nubli in the 57th minute for a 2-1 lead. It was the turning point for Tenaga as five minutes later S. Selvaraju made it 3-1 for a two-goal advantage.
click here for more info.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Tenaga on a high
KUALA LUMPUR: Former champions Tenaga Nasional turned on the power in the second half to defeat defending overall champions Sapura 3-1 in the first-leg semi-finals of the TNB-Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium yesterday.
In the other semi-final, league champions Ernst and Young outplayed Division Two outfit Batu Pahat 4-1 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. For Tenaga, it was their first win over Sapura. They played four times in the league and drew thrice (1-1, 0-0, 2-2) and lost once (0-1). Tenaga, who won the overall title in 2004, started off well by earning two penalty corners in the first 12 minutes but failed to convert.
However, they took the lead off their third penalty corner in the 22nd minute with Mohd Amin Rahim scoring with a low flick. Sapura, the league runners-up, fought back to earn two penalty corners but on both occasions national midfielder Jiwa Mohan, who is the top scorer in the league with 23 goals, saw both attempts stopped by the Tenaga defenders.
Sapura, however, managed to equalise through Jiwa’s younger brother Jivan off a penalty corner set-piece in the 42nd minute. But Tenaga stormed back and scored two goals in a five-minute spell. Former international M. Kaliswaran scored with a brilliant reverse stick that had Sapura goalkeeper Mohd Nasihin Nubli well beaten in the 57th minute. And five minutes later Tajol Rosli beat a defender on the right before squaring the ball to national forward S. Selvaraju who blasted it into the top net.
Tenaga, however, will not have Selvaraju’s services in the return leg after he collected a yellow card in the 47th minute. He has collected 12 demerit points and is suspended for one match. Tenaga coach K. Rajan said that the 3-1 win was a very good result. “My boys played well and they defended well in numbers. And our counter-attacks worked well in the second half as we scored two excellent goals.” Sapura assistant coach Stephen van Huizen said that Tenaga took their chances well while while his team missed a few sitters.
“Our defence gave Tenaga the space to create chances after defender S. Shankar injured his knee in the second half. And they made use of the chances to score two goals. “The 1-3 deficit has made our task harder in the return leg,” said Stephen. Ernst and Young, who took a step closer to the final, scored their goals through Ismail Abu (3rd), Mohd Shahrun Nabil (23rd), Mohd Amerullah Abdul Aziz (30th) and Mohd Faizal Daud (42nd). Razlan Mohd Radzi scored for Batu Pahat in the 10th minute. The return leg will be played on Wednesday.
In the other semi-final, league champions Ernst and Young outplayed Division Two outfit Batu Pahat 4-1 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. For Tenaga, it was their first win over Sapura. They played four times in the league and drew thrice (1-1, 0-0, 2-2) and lost once (0-1). Tenaga, who won the overall title in 2004, started off well by earning two penalty corners in the first 12 minutes but failed to convert.
However, they took the lead off their third penalty corner in the 22nd minute with Mohd Amin Rahim scoring with a low flick. Sapura, the league runners-up, fought back to earn two penalty corners but on both occasions national midfielder Jiwa Mohan, who is the top scorer in the league with 23 goals, saw both attempts stopped by the Tenaga defenders.
Sapura, however, managed to equalise through Jiwa’s younger brother Jivan off a penalty corner set-piece in the 42nd minute. But Tenaga stormed back and scored two goals in a five-minute spell. Former international M. Kaliswaran scored with a brilliant reverse stick that had Sapura goalkeeper Mohd Nasihin Nubli well beaten in the 57th minute. And five minutes later Tajol Rosli beat a defender on the right before squaring the ball to national forward S. Selvaraju who blasted it into the top net.
Tenaga, however, will not have Selvaraju’s services in the return leg after he collected a yellow card in the 47th minute. He has collected 12 demerit points and is suspended for one match. Tenaga coach K. Rajan said that the 3-1 win was a very good result. “My boys played well and they defended well in numbers. And our counter-attacks worked well in the second half as we scored two excellent goals.” Sapura assistant coach Stephen van Huizen said that Tenaga took their chances well while while his team missed a few sitters.
“Our defence gave Tenaga the space to create chances after defender S. Shankar injured his knee in the second half. And they made use of the chances to score two goals. “The 1-3 deficit has made our task harder in the return leg,” said Stephen. Ernst and Young, who took a step closer to the final, scored their goals through Ismail Abu (3rd), Mohd Shahrun Nabil (23rd), Mohd Amerullah Abdul Aziz (30th) and Mohd Faizal Daud (42nd). Razlan Mohd Radzi scored for Batu Pahat in the 10th minute. The return leg will be played on Wednesday.
E&Y and Tenaga take healthy leads
ERNST & Young and Tenaga Nasional took healthy leads into the return leg of the Malaysia Hockey League TNB Cup semi-finals, but only after overcoming shaky starts.
E & Y beat Batu Pahat Sikhs 4-1 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, while Tenaga overcame Sapura 3-1 at the KLHA Stadium. Tenaga received a blow when playmaker S. Selvaraju was yellow-carded, and his demerit points is now 12 which means he is suspended for the return leg.Tenaga took the lead in the 22nd minute when Amin Rahim scored off a penalty corner attempt, but after the breather, Sapura equalised in the 42nd when Jivan Mohan deflected home a penalty corner attempt.
But Sapura in their haste to take the lead, left gaping holes in defence, which Tenaga capitalised on with M. Kaliswaran's brilliant reverse stick shot from the top of the semi-circle. Kaliswaran, who retired from international duty in 2000 after the Osaka Olympic Qualifiers, gave Tenaga the boost they needed. Selvaraju slammed the third at the end of a darting run in the 62nd minute. Tenaga coach K. Rajan was unhappy with the yellow card flashed at Selvaraju, but took it in good faith."We have a good cushion and will now wait for Sapura to come at us in the return leg," said Rajan. "We will try and score off counter attacks."
Selvaraju's loss will be felt, but nothing can be done about it, but to have an alternative plan." Sapura assistant coach Stephen van Huizen admitted it will be difficult, but not impossible in the return leg."We still have 70 minutes of hockey, and anything can happen. It is not over yet," he said.At the National Stadium, Ismail Abu gave E & Y the lead in the third minute, but just seven minutes later Batu Pahat Sikhs equalised trough Razlan Radzi. But the match belonged to E & Y who powered ahead with goals from Shahrun Nabil (23rd), Amerullah Aziz (30th) and Faizal Daud (42nd).
The return legs will be played on Wednesday but the Malaysian Hockey Federation has yet to decide on the venues as they are ironing-out details with the television crew.
E & Y beat Batu Pahat Sikhs 4-1 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, while Tenaga overcame Sapura 3-1 at the KLHA Stadium. Tenaga received a blow when playmaker S. Selvaraju was yellow-carded, and his demerit points is now 12 which means he is suspended for the return leg.Tenaga took the lead in the 22nd minute when Amin Rahim scored off a penalty corner attempt, but after the breather, Sapura equalised in the 42nd when Jivan Mohan deflected home a penalty corner attempt.
But Sapura in their haste to take the lead, left gaping holes in defence, which Tenaga capitalised on with M. Kaliswaran's brilliant reverse stick shot from the top of the semi-circle. Kaliswaran, who retired from international duty in 2000 after the Osaka Olympic Qualifiers, gave Tenaga the boost they needed. Selvaraju slammed the third at the end of a darting run in the 62nd minute. Tenaga coach K. Rajan was unhappy with the yellow card flashed at Selvaraju, but took it in good faith."We have a good cushion and will now wait for Sapura to come at us in the return leg," said Rajan. "We will try and score off counter attacks."
Selvaraju's loss will be felt, but nothing can be done about it, but to have an alternative plan." Sapura assistant coach Stephen van Huizen admitted it will be difficult, but not impossible in the return leg."We still have 70 minutes of hockey, and anything can happen. It is not over yet," he said.At the National Stadium, Ismail Abu gave E & Y the lead in the third minute, but just seven minutes later Batu Pahat Sikhs equalised trough Razlan Radzi. But the match belonged to E & Y who powered ahead with goals from Shahrun Nabil (23rd), Amerullah Aziz (30th) and Faizal Daud (42nd).
The return legs will be played on Wednesday but the Malaysian Hockey Federation has yet to decide on the venues as they are ironing-out details with the television crew.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Ernst & Young vs Maybank
nice game E&Y.. although they lost 3-2 to maybank, but they manage to placed themselves into semi-finals of MHL with aggregate 6-4..
their next opponent is Batu Pahat SIKH.. a team from second division..
its seem pretty easy for them to beat Batu Pahat Sikh.. just wait and see this sunday (23/7/07)
at stadium hoki bukit jalil..
their next opponent is Batu Pahat SIKH.. a team from second division..
its seem pretty easy for them to beat Batu Pahat Sikh.. just wait and see this sunday (23/7/07)
at stadium hoki bukit jalil..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
RSS Feed (xml)
